Feb. 23, 2011 9:47 p.m. | Wauwatosa West upset South Milwaukee, 69-64, in overtime Wednesday in the regular-season finale at West and knocked the Rockets out of a share for first.

Kieviante Love was 5-for-6 down the stretch in overtime and Tyler Krause added five points as the Trojans outscored the Rockets, 10-5, in the extra period.

Trailing, 19-16, after one quarter as Sam Oliden had eight points for the Rockets, West rallied to take a 28-27 half-time lead, as Jarvis Ashley scored six points in the second period.

Ricky Landers, who opened the second half with two 3's from the right corner, scored 8 points and Ashley added 7 in the third period, as the Trojans took a 49-37 lead into the fourth quarter.

But the Rockets wouldn't quit and went on a 22-10 fourth-quarter run, tying the game on Isaiah Rodrigez' lay-up with 35 seconds to play. Ashley's driving layup on the buzzer went-in and out sending the game into OT. Rodriguez had 9 points in the period.

Feb. 23, 2011 11:30 a.m. | The city's newest department heads will each get paid more than $100,000, the Common Council decided in a 10-3 vote Tuesday.

The council approved compensation for Finance Director Craig Kammholz and Public Works Director Bill Porter. A special council meeting was held because the compensation packages weren't read into the record at the prior week's meeting as required by city ordinance.

Kammholz will get a starting salary of $105,900, as well as three weeks of vacation. Porter's compensation package calls for a $104,830 salary, three weeks of vacation and a $300 monthly car allowance in lieu of a city vehicle.

Both also would receive a week of "executive leave," unpaid time off that provides some time off to employees coming from jobs that offered more vacation time.

Some aldermen have called the pay excessive, but City Administrator James Archambo said there is a cost savings from the salaries of the people who recently left those positions.

Feb. 23, 2011 11:03 a.m. | Wauwatosa water bills and parking ticket payments can now be made online, but users will have to spend a little extra money for the convenience.

The city is working with outside firms to process payments made via the city website, Wauwatosa.net. By using a credit card, people can pay their bill at any time from their home computer.

"It's just another means of taking care of your bill, without having to come to City Hall," City Administrator James Archambo said.

He only expects to see 1 to 3 percent of payments for water bills come through the web because there will be a fee for the service. The city does not make any money as it can only charge the rate approved by the Public Service Commission. The processing company charges 2.6 percent of the amount paid, or a minimum of $3.95.

Any water bill paid prior to midnight of the due date will be considered on time, and bills will register as paid within three days.

Feb. 23, 2011 9:45 a.m. | A Wauwatosa man was arrested for drunken driving after he sideswiped a police car and drove off last week, police said.

According to the Wauwatosa police report:

Officers were responding to an incident in the 1300 block of North 68th Street, with their squad car parked on the street, at 7:46 p.m. Feb. 16. They heard a crash and one of the officers saw a hit-and-run had occurred, leaving scrapes on the police vehicle.

The striking vehicle was found parked across two spaces at Metcalfe's Market, 6700 W. State St. The driver had gone inside to purchase a six-pack of beer. He was arrested when he returned to his vehicle.

The 29-year-old driver told officers he had been drinking at home and was making a run to the store to pick up more alcohol. His blood-alcohol content was 0.21, nearly three times the legal limit.

Feb. 23, 2011 9:04 a.m. | The state has set dates in late March to hold public hearings on the upcoming Zoo Interchange reconstruction plans, but first Department of Transportation officials need to meet with Tosa residents to get feedback on design options that could impact their neighborhood.

People living near Glenview Avenue can learn about possible street improvements that would help handle increased traffic to the local roads during the interchange project. A meeting will be held at 7 p.m. March 1 at Wilson Elementary School, 1060 Glenview Ave.

The project team will bring maps and information to detail design options.

Public hearings on the larger project and its possible impacts throughout the corridor will be held March 22 and 23 at State Fair Park in West Allis.

Feb. 23, 2011 8:15 a.m. | Police arrested two people for armed robbery after conducting a manhunt in Wauwatosa Cemetery on Friday night.

According to the Wauwatosa police report:

Two men were riding a Milwaukee County bus from the east end of Milwaukee. When they exited at 88th Street and North Avenue, they were followed by three other riders. Soon afterward, one of the men was pushed, and he turned around to see a gun pointed at his face. The robber hit him in the face with the gun and said, "Gimme your stuff."

The two victims emptied their pockets. As the three robbers - police were still looking for the third as of Tuesday night - took off, one said, "Don't follow us or we'll cap you."

As officers arrived, they saw the three robbers climb the cemetery fence. Milwaukee police and Waukesha County sheriff's deputies and their dogs were called in to help track them. A 17-year-old Milwaukee boy was apprehended first with some of the stolen items and marijuana in his possession.

Feb. 22, 2011 11:30 p.m. | This is the way it is now for Whitefish Bay girls basketball coach Greg Capper.

His team has won 11 of its last 12 games including six in a row and has posted its best record (15-4) since the 2006 state D2 runner-up season with its only loss to top-ranked in state Nicolet on Jan. 28.

It has suffocated opponents with a relentless press and halfcourt defense and has found an effective one-two punch in freshman center Maya Jonas and sophomore guard Elisabeth Johnston.

And yet even after an admittedly hit-and-miss effort Tuesday night, the Blue Dukes still found themselves with a 42-32 nonconference win over Wauwatosa East.

Feb. 22, 2011 1:36 p.m. | Applebee's is open in the Village and will stay that way now that the owner of Mad Dog Saloon has withdrawn his proposal to move into the building at 68th and State streets.

The city received a letter from Dominic Lalicata, the attorney for the owner of Mad Dog Saloon in Greenfield, stating he was pulling any pending applications for permits to open a bar in the building occupied by Applebee's.

Anthony Cortese, vice president of marketing for Wisconsin Hospitality Group, which owns Applebee's, said he's not clear about what transpired behind the scenes. He only knows that the purchase of the property by Mad Dog was no longer going to be pursued.

"If the worse news is that we get to keep serving our guests on State Street, our employees don't have to move to another location and Applebee's remains part of the neighborhood, we aren't all that sad to hear it," he said.

Lalicata had twice come before the Plan Commission with his proposal to open a sports bar. On both occasions he was met with lack of support from the panel, which voted unanimously Feb. 7 to withhold its recommendation for the plan.

A 27-year-old woman filed a complaint against Brian Norris, owner of Milwaukee's Best Massage at 611 N. Mayfair Road, Jan. 30. This accusation comes a little more than a week after he was arrested for inappropriately touching a female customer.

The Wauwatosa Police Department didn't immediately release this second complaint, and a third complaint has been filed but not released.

According to a Wauwatosa police report:

The 27-year-old woman said the assault happened in March 2010, the first time she showed up for an appointment with Norris.

Feb. 20, 2011 5:21 p.m. | Wauwtosa East earned a top seed in the Division 2 Sectional #4 and Wauwatosa West earned a third seed it was announced Sunday afternoon.

The Red Raiders (10-3, 14-7) earn a first-round bye on March 1 and will then play the winner of the fourth-seeded Milwaukee Lutheran (5-6, 7-10)/fifth-seeded Milwaukee Custer (3-7, 4-15) game on March 4 at East.

Tosa West (10-6, 11-9) opens on March 1 at home against sixth-seeded Milwaukee Madison (1-9, 8-11). The winner of that game will play at Milwaukee Samuel.Morse.Marshall (3-6, 7-9) on March 4.

Feb. 18, 2011 5:24 p.m. | Representatives from Wauwatosa's teachers union headed to Madison today to show their opposition to the proposals in Gov. Scott Walker's budget-repair bill, continuing a string of protests the group has been involved with this week.

After meeting with Wauwatosa School District officials Thursday, the union sent one representative from each district school to Madison today to voice their disapproval for Walker's proposal, which would require union employees to pay a greater share of pension and health insurance costs and lose their ability to collectively bargain during future contract negotiations.

Members of the union also participated in marches outside Walker's Wauwatosa home on Tuesday night and state Sen. Alberta Darling's Menomonee Falls office on Wednesday, said Debbie Brent, president of the Wauwatosa Education Association.

Brent said union members also will attend a rally Saturday at the state capitol.

Feb. 18, 2011 3:24 p.m. | Wauwatosa’s next fire chief will come from outside the state if the Police and Fire Commission’s top choice accepts the position.
Rob Ugaste, deputy chief of administration for the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District in northern Illinois, was the commission’s selection this week. The decision came after an assessment that looked at how the candidates handled a mock emergency and two days of in-person interviews.
Several local candidates, including Police Chief Barry Weber, interim Fire Chief Michael Anton and Deputy Fire Chief Bill Rice, were considered but passed over.
Ugaste has served as a deputy chief for about a year, and assistant chief for 10 years prior. In Wisconsin, assistant chief is a higher rank than deputy but the structure is flipped in Illinois. Therefore, Ugaste is in a second-in-command position in his current job.
City administrators will negotiate compensation and the commission will have to vote on the terms before the hiring is official. The fire chief job is among the positions that require residency, so Ugaste would have to move to Tosa.
Earlier this week, the Common Council approved removing the residency requirement for the finance director. Many aldermen said they were more likely to continue to require police and fire chiefs to live in the city because it is important they be able to respond to emergencies in a timely manner.
A discussion on residency requirements is expected to happen within the next month.

Feb. 18, 2011 1:30 p.m. | There was a hiccup in the hiring process for new department heads during the Common Council meeting Tuesday.

Ordinance requires compensation packages be read into the record, which didn't happen, according to a letter from the mayor to the council members. The council voted, 12-4, to appoint Craig Kammholz as finance director and Bill Porter as public works director, but there was no mention of salary or benefits.

Kammholz would get a starting salary of $105,900, as well as three weeks of vacation. Porter's compensation package calls for $104,830 salary, three weeks of vacation and $300 monthly car allowance in lieu of a city vehicle. Both would also receive a week of "executive leave," unpaid time off that provides some time off to employees coming from jobs that offered more vacation time.

A special council meeting has been called at 7:50 p.m. between committee meetings Feb. 22 at City Hall.

A start date for both new hires will be determined after the compensation packages get approved, Human Resources Director Beth Aldana said.

Feb. 17, 2011 11:55 a.m. | The Tosa East Athletic Booster Club is undertaking a $50,000 fundraising campaign to support a new and improved Strength and Conditioning Facility at Tosa East to be used by all athletes.

The much needed improvements will put Tosa East on par with other schools in the Greater Metro Conference.

A successful Winter Auction will go a long way in meeting this goal and fans can help. The Booster Club invites backers to join them for a fun evening that will include drinks, food, live music (Under the Glass) and silent and live auctions.

The event is Friday, Feb. 25 from 7–11:00 p.m. at the Wauwatosa Women’s Club. Tickets are limited, so reserve your spot today by logging on to the Booster Website at teboosterclub.org to order your tickets online.

Couples admission is $50.00 and Individual admission is $30.00, $55.00 and $35.00, respectively, at the door. For more information visit the Tosa East Athletic Booster website.

Feb. 16, 2011 11:12 a.m. | A 22-year-old woman was sexually assaulted by a man pretending he was lost Monday.

According to a Wauwatosa Police Department report:

The woman said a man stopped her at 78th Street and Capitol Drive and said he needed directions to his father's business on Mayfair Road. She voluntarily hopped in the car to guide the driver at 9:45 a.m.

He started taking side streets and rubbing her leg as they drove. He told her she was pretty and made lewd comments. She got nervous and asked several times to be let out of the car, but he refused.

Eventually he pulled onto Menomonee River Parkway and forced her hands down his pants. He forced her to perform oral sex, before letting her leave. She called 911 and met police at a bus shelter, where she was found crying and shaken. She was taken to a hospital to be examined and to gather evidence.

Feb. 16, 2011 11:00 a.m. | Does the garbage cart at the end of the driveway look more like it belongs in with the refuse rather than holding it? Wauwatosa garbage carts are aging and the number needing replacement is on the rise.

Each year an order for a truckload - roughly 500 carts - is placed. This year, the order will be increased to two truckloads to accommodate for the wear and tear, said Bill Wehrley, interim public works director.

Money to pay for the carts will come from the solid-waste budget and from the savings realized by deferring roof repairs at the public works transfer station. If recycling revenue remains strong - it exceeded 2010 expectations by $25,000 - then that money can be used for the roof later this year.

The Common Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a contract to buy carts for $46 apiece. That price was the second lowest bid (a difference of $1.71 per cart) and was selected at the behest of public works crews who said the cart style makes it easier for the automated garbage trucks to pick up.

Alderman Bobby Pantuso questioned why residents looking to purchase a second garbage cart have to pay $75. The nearly $30 difference between the city's purchase price and the residents' covers the time staff would spend delivering the second carts, Wehrley said.

Feb. 16, 2011 10:58 a.m. | A 20-year-old Greendale woman was arrested for heroin possession after the man she was sharing a hotel room with overdosed on the drug Saturday morning.

According to a Wauwatosa Police Department report:

A call came into 911 reporting a man was unconscious after injecting heroin in a guestroom at Super 8, 115 N. Mayfair Road, at 10:04 a.m. The woman answered the door and said the 30-year-old Verona man had come to, however, he was having trouble keeping his eyes open.

She said she watched him shoot up that morning then saw him pass out and start convulsing. His lips had turned blue and his breathing was erratic. She put a Suboxone pill, used to treat opiate addiction, into his mouth and started performing CPR. She estimated he was out for 15 minutes before she called for help.

After paramedics determined he was no longer in medical danger, the man turned over 1.2 grams of marijuana that had been in his pocket.

Feb. 16, 2011 9:44 a.m. | Wauwatosa officials, waiting to see what transpires in Madison, where legislators are considering proposed changes to union benefits for state employees, put on hold Tuesday a fire-union contract and a move to require nonrepresented city employees to pay more toward health-insurance premiums

Mayor Jill Didier moved to hold off action on the two items on the Common Council meeting agenda, even though the Employee Relations Committee recommended approving the union contract and increased premium share. Alderman Peter Donegan, committee chairman, agreed with the delay but asked that these issues be discussed in coming weeks at a time when the majority of the council could attend.

"This is very significant legislation to us and our future," Donegan said.

Gov. Scott Walker is pushing for most public workers to pay half their pension costs, about 6 percent, as well as 12 percent of the health care costs. Walker's proposal would limit unions to only bargaining over wages and not benefits or other work rules. Only the police, firefighter and state troopers unions could continue to collectively bargain for benefits. Calling the legislation "a budget repair bill," the governor has said the changes would bring a $300 million savings in two years.

Donegan suggested a Committee of the Whole session or an Employee Relations Committee meeting when no other committees are in session. Common practice is to hold several committee meetings simultaneously with aldermen split among different rooms.

Feb. 15, 2011 9:50 p.m. | A 55-year-old Milwaukee man who crashed his car at Wauwatosa and Stickney avenues Friday has been charged with drunken driving for the sixth time.

According to the Wauwatosa police report:

Glenn Golden didn't recall being in an accident even though his car engine was smoking and the vehicle had significant front-end damage at 5:33 p.m. Friday. He struck a car that had been waiting to make a turn. The 33-year-old woman driving said she had neck and back pain from the crash.

The officer responding to the crash noticed Golden's pants were unzipped and he had urinated in them. He was taken to Wisconsin Heart Hospital for a blood draw.

Golden was charged Monday with drunken driving, sixth offense, driving after his license had been revoked due to alcohol-related crimes and a hit-and-run accident.

Feb. 15, 2011 9:46 p.m. | Vandals left their mark on numerous East Tosa businesses over the weekend.

According to Wauwatosa police reports:

Buildings along North Avenue between 61st and 68th streets were spray-painted between 3 p.m. Saturday and 7:45 a.m. Sunday. The fence and walls of North Star Music and Rosebud Cinema were among the spots tagged with identical but unrecognizable designs and the letters "TCB" or "TMK" in red or yellow spray paint. The damage above the theater's awning demonstrates that the vandals had to have climbed onto the roof.

The pay phone and wall of Tosa Liquor, as well as the walls of No. 1 Chinese Restaurant and Fusion hair salon also were hit.

Feb. 15, 2011 9:42 p.m. | A man seen running along Fairview Avenue with blood streaming down his face was arrested for drunken driving last week.

According to the Wauwatosa police report:

The 34-year-old New Berlin man had crashed his pickup truck, which was hauling a trailer, onto a snowbank at 121st Street and Fairview Avenue at 10:15 p.m. Feb. 10.

Witnesses said when they stopped and offered him help, he begged them to give him a ride home and to not call the police. One woman said she was going to call 911, and he fled.

Officers saw the man, covered in blood and auto glass, running from the scene. He had several head wounds and seemed intoxicated. He refused to answer any questions or take a breath test. A blood draw was taken at Wisconsin Heart Hospital.

Feb. 15, 2011 5:00 p.m. | A Wauwatosa man whose erratic driving had neighbors concerned was arrested for drunken driving for the fifth time last week.

According to the Wauwatosa police report:

Police had received complaints from neighbors of the 57-year-old man who said he routinely drove home drunk in the evenings, and they feared for the safety of the children in the area.

The man's license had been revoked due to prior drunken driving convictions, so an officer was waiting at 116th Street and Watertown Plank Road at 5:53 p.m. Feb. 7 as he pulled into the driveway.

The man smelled of alcohol and said he had been at a bar at 124th and Burleigh streets before heading home. He refused to take a breath test, so his blood was drawn at a local hospital and sent to the state crime lab.

According to Lt. Gerald J. Witkowski, a lone man presented a teller with a note demanding money about 10:45 a.m. Thursday. His image was caught on surveillance tape. Police are looking for a white man 45 to 60 years of age, 5-foot-10 to 6 feet tall, 160 to 180 pounds and wearing prescription glasses with dark brown frames.

Witkowski said that as far as he's aware there were no injuries in the incident. Further details were not available as the incident remains under investigation.

If you have any information about the robbery, call the Wauwatosa Police Department at (414) 471-8430. Callers can remain anonymous.

Feb. 09, 2011 9:23 a.m. | A 22-year-old Milwaukee man who put a Macy's security guard in a chokehold last week has been charged with battery.

According to the Wauwatosa police report:

About noon Feb. 1, Aaron Buchanan and his girlfriend were in the elevator at Macy's. He took a child's shirt from the store and stuffed it into his girlfriend's bag, which was filled with items she had purchased.

When the security guard confronted the couple, Buchanan grabbed the guard's throat and pulled his head to the side, knocking off and damaging his glasses. Then he picked up the guard by the neck so his feet were off the ground, and started to choke him.

An employee at the cosmetic counter screamed for Buchanan to let go and told a co-worker to call 911. Buchanan quickly dropped the guard and ran from the store.

Feb. 09, 2011 8:10 a.m. | Keeping safety in mind, a Wauwatosa woman hailed a taxi to drive her home from the Super Bowl celebration happening in downtown Milwaukee on Sunday night. But as she paid her fare, she realized she hadn't avoided a bad situation after all.

According to a Wauwatosa Police Department report:

The 24-year-old woman decided to sit in the front seat and talk to the driver so she didn't seem rude. When they pulled up to her home on 60th Street about 12:30 a.m. Monday, she handed him money. Instead of taking the bills, he grabbed her arm, pulled her toward him and started kissing her.

The woman managed to pull away and said, "No, no, no," while opening the passenger door. He grabbed ahold of her again, saying "Yes, yes."

She freed herself and ran out of the cab. She was so shaken that she hid in the yard for 20 to 30 minutes until her roommates returned home.

The businesses, proposed for vacant storefronts in the Village, still need the blessing of the Community Development Committee and Common Council before they can move in and open shop. The CDC is set to meet Feb. 22, and the Common Council on March 1.

Scott and Becky Berger want to open Yo Mama! Frozen yogurt shop, which operates like a sundae bar but with healthier options. People would pick their flavors and toppings and pay by the pound.

They hope to occupy a portion of the former Drew's Variety Store building, 7503 Harwood Ave. Space inside would accommodate 24 to 30 people and there are plans to provide outdoor seating.

The new owners of the former Drew's building, Sustainable Properties, already have received permission to encroach onto the right of way on the Wauwatosa Avenue side of the building, Community Development Director Nancy Welch said. The owners would need to return to the Board of Public Works to put outdoor seating along the Harwood Avenue side.

Feb. 08, 2011 3:48 p.m. | A woman who has been convicted of stealing from Mayfair allegedly returned to the mall for an encore performance Saturday.

Shykela Staples, 18, of Milwaukee, was charged of misdemeanor retail theft Monday, a violation of the probation she had been assigned the prior week for stealing in December.

According to the Wauwatosa police report:

Staples and a friend, also an 18-year-old Milwaukee woman, argued with a Boston Store employee before entering the mall at 11:03 a.m. A security guard had tipped off police that Staples had been banned from the mall for the next five years, so she was trespassing.

As police officers approached, they saw Staples hand her purse to a 19-year-old man, who walked off toward the food court. She told police she had no purse and therefore no ID in an effort to evade the ban.

Feb. 08, 2011 11:48 a.m. | The Wauwatosa-based Salvation Army of Milwaukee County has reached its Christmas fundraising campaign goal of $2.7 million.

The donations will help the organization provide services - including the giving of toys and food next holiday season, a summer lunch program for kids, disaster services, after-school programs and activities for seniors - throughout 2011.

Feb. 08, 2011 11:44 a.m. | The Wauwatosa School District will hold classes April 25 to make up for the snow day from last week. April 25 had been listed as an inclement weather makeup day on the district calendar.

Should inclement weather cancel classes again this school year, the district will review further options for makeup days at that time.

Feb. 08, 2011 9:48 a.m. | Permitting Mad Dog Saloon to move into a strip mall at 68th and State streets would put public safety and the success of the grocery store next door at risk, the Plan Commission ruled Monday night

The panel unanimously voted to deny a request by Dominic Lalicata to open Mad Dog Saloon in the building that houses Applebee's, 6750 W. State St. However, the plan is not dead because the commission only has advisory power. The Community Development Committee is the next stop Feb. 22.

If patrons who have imbibed in alcohol drive through the busy parking lot shared by Metcalfe's Market, it could result in disaster, commissioners said Monday night.

The shopping carts, cars backing in and out and parents with young children in tow are the norm in the lot that sees peak business of 300 to 400 customers per hour between 4 and 8 p.m. Friday and up to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, said grocery store owner Kevin Metcalfe.

Those busy times overlap with the 6 to 7 p.m. period that Rebecca Boyle, attorney for Mad Dog, called prime time for the bar.

Feb. 04, 2011 9:23 p.m. | Jarvis Ashley's basket with 9.8 seconds left to play gave Wauwatosa West a thrilling 51-49 win over first-place Whitnall on Friday at Tosa West.

The win was the fourth in a row for the Trojans and the fifth in six outings as they improved to 8-5 in the Woodland Conference Black Division, 9-8 overall. The Falcons dropped to 10-3, 11-6 overall as they lost to the Trojans for the second time in 11 days.

After a racehorse first half - West led 23-16 after one quarter and Whitnall won the second period 20-10 - the Falcons led 36-33. They increased that to 47-43 after three periods, but then West held the Falcons to a baskte by Bryan Nagy in the fourth period while the Trojans scored eight.

Trailing 49-47, West freshman Ricky Landers hit a layout with 4:09 left to play, but then both teams went cold.

The Trojans ended up with the ball with 33 seconds left and then ran the clock down to 13 seconds when Ashley got the ball on the left side. He then drove the lane and banked in a shot and with 6.1 seconds left, the Falcons called time out.

Feb. 02, 2011 3:52 p.m. | We've just updated our gallery of snowstorm pictures with some shots from New Berlin and a bunch of user-submitted photos from throughout the area. How high are the piles of snow in Glendale? Would you believe all the way to the top of a street sign?

Got some snow photos of your own? Check out the Your Photos link on each NOW home page and send us your best shots.

Readers of our print editions should also keep their eyes open this week for a special surprise on the front page. You might see a few colors on the top that look familiar. Will this week's NOW become a collector's edition? Only time will tell...

Feb. 02, 2011 11:30 a.m. | Homeowners who have energy-efficient furnaces need to make sure the PVC pipe that vents out the side of the house remains clear of snow, Interim Fire Chief Michael Anton cautions.

Don't pile or blow snow on the pipe because it could cause a deadly buildup of carbon monoxide into the home, he said.

All homes should have a working carbon monoxide detector as well as smoke detectors, he further advised.

Feb. 01, 2011 9:42 p.m. | A store selling vintage furnishings and home décor and a yogurt shop could soon open their doors in the Village.

Friends Kimberly Jenkins of Brookfield and Penny Stark of Wauwatosa have proposed setting up "an occasional store," called Twirly Birds, that would be open for business for one long weekend per month. The rest of their time would be spent shopping estate sales and antique shops and creating pieces for the next sale.

"These are really big in Minnesota," Jenkins said. "I've been following this type of store for some time and one town has six or seven. Women know the sale schedule and plan ahead of time to be there."

The idea is that pieces are unusual and the inventory is always changing. With the older homes in Wauwatosa, the duo see a market for vintage and antique pieces.

The friends each boast creative talents. Jenkins paints furniture, giving older pieces a contemporary look, whereas Stark uses aged china, enamel pins, earrings and other materials to make mosaic picture frames and decorative interior accents. For five years they've sold at craft shows and been asked where their store is located.

Feb. 01, 2011 3:40 p.m. | Wauwatosa has issued a snow emergency for at least the next 48 hours.

During this period, parking is not allowed on city streets. Vehicles left on the street will receive tickets.

The Public Works Department has a few tips for residents during the storm:

• When clearing property, don't blow or push snow into roadways or city medians.

• Notify the Public Works office of any downed branches or trees that could cause damage or obstruct public property, or any flooding or sewer backups resulting from the storm by calling (414) 471-8422.

Feb. 01, 2011 12:26 p.m. | Mayor Jill Didier has canceled tonight's Wauwatosa Common Council meeting, choosing to heed the advice of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office that people should stay off the roads after 6 p.m. due to an expected blizzard.

Agenda items will be held over until the next council meeting, scheduled for Feb. 15.

The panel was scheduled to discuss the proposed fire union contract, among other topics.

Feb. 01, 2011 11:42 a.m. | Items taken during numerous car break-ins in Wauwatosa have been recovered, but local and federal law enforcement officers are still looking for the person who stole them.

According to the Wauwatosa police report:

A resident of the 1400 block of North 65th Street called in to say that an auto break-in was happening at 3:13 a.m. Jan. 28. The thief was scared off and drove away.

The vehicle was found at State and 68th streets, but the driver eluded officers. The 2005 Nissan Altima was found running but abandoned at 71st Street and Blanchard Avenue, where it had hit a snowbank. Footprints and a shoe were found in the yard.

The vehicle was full of tools, flashlights, three Global Positioning Systems, two phones, two stereos, baby clothes, gift certificates and more items believed to have been stolen from vehicles in the city.

Feb. 01, 2011 11:35 a.m. | An off-duty Milwaukee police officer was nearly struck by a man fleeing after he tried to take alcohol from a Wauwatosa grocery store Thursday morning.

According to a Wauwatosa Police Department report:

The off-duty officer noticed a security guard chasing a man through the parking lot at Metcalfe's Market, 6700 W. State St., at 10:30 a.m. He tried to stop the suspect from driving off by showing his badge and pointing his gun. Initially, the suspect put up his hands, but then he backed out his minivan.

The officer ran after the suspect's minivan and stood in front of it again trying to get him to stop. The driver was undeterred and he nearly struck the officer before driving off.

The security guard said the man had been recognized for stealing three bottles of liquor the prior day and he was filling a cart that day with alcohol.

Chris Fifarek, 24, came up with his recipe while experimenting with leftovers in college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For years, he had ordered chicken Parmesan sandwiches while dining at restaurants. Hunger and an interest in cooking led to a quest to see if he could put his on spin on the dish.

Initially, he put the meat, cheese and sauce on a kaiser roll. However, an Italian roommate told him to try ciabatta bread.

"It actually worked out better, so it stayed," he said.

He also made a change that would make it easier for ballpark dining. Instead of having a side salad, he threw the mixed greens right on the sandwich.

Feb. 01, 2011 11:30 a.m. | A 16-year-old Milwaukee boy was so bent on taking an iPod from the Apple Store at Mayfair on Saturday that it took three off-duty law enforcement officers to stop him.

According to the Wauwatosa police report:

Lt. William Brown of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office was standing in line at the store so he could have his phone fixed about 3:30 p.m. When he saw the boy remove a security device from an MP3 player, he introduced himself as an off-duty officer and advised him not to take the item.

The boy refused to listen and pocketed the iPod, then he tried to leave the store. Brown attempted to restrain the boy and ended up getting punched in the face. An off-duty officer from the New Berlin Police Department, who was working as store security, and an off-duty Milwaukee police lieutenant came to Brown's assistance.

Brown refused medical treatment, but later sent Wauwatosa police pictures of his facial injuries.

Feb. 01, 2011 10:38 a.m. | Due to the snow, the Wauwatosa School District has called off all of today's after-school activities, including athletic competitions.

As for classes, district officials don't expect to send kids home early today, but canceling school Wednesday is a definite possibility, spokesman Chris Preisler said. Superintendent Phil Ertl will likely make that decision this afternoon. In the meantime, he's keeping in contact with leaders of surrounding school districts.

Milwaukee Public Schools announced they will be closed Wednesday.

As for today, after-school day care will remain open through the regularly scheduled time or until all children have been picked up. Junior kindergarten registration will be offered at elementary schools for a shortened session from 1 to 3:30 p.m., but sixth-grade registration at Longfellow Middle School will be rescheduled.

Feb. 01, 2011 9:30 a.m. | A 19-year-old Wauwatosa man who bolted when he saw police was arrested for dealing drugs after he sold a quarter pound of marijuana during a sting operation.

According to a Wauwatosa Police Department report:

The man saw a police officer pull up and made a run for it into his house in the 2200 block of 64th Street at 4:46 p.m. Jan. 20. An officer was able to grab him and pull him onto the porch, where the man was tackled and suffered a contusion to his forehead. The man said he was high and paranoid so he freaked out when he saw the cop pull up.

A bag containing 1 gram of pot and $721 was found in his pockets, and a narcotic pain pill in his vehicle. A jar containing different strains of marijuana buds was found next to his bed. He said he planned to smoke them on April 20, a counterculture celebration of smoking weed.

Feb. 01, 2011 8:38 a.m. | A group pretending to represent area schools and businesses is running a scam to steal cell phones and cash in on rebates.

According to a Wauwatosa Police Department report:

Sales staff at the Verizon kiosk at Mayfair Maill got suspicious after four different people tried to buy cell phones for workplaces and schools between Jan. 3 and 11. Each one had an official looking letter that contained a taxpayer identification number. They claimed to work for Milwaukee School of Engineering, University School of Milwaukee, Marine First Credit Union and ARC Milwaukee.

An internal investigation showed the customers had no ties to those organizations.

They opened accounts for 27 phones valued at $13,137. Verizon was offering a promotion of free phones and $100 rebate per account. Rebate claims were starting to come in when the cell phone company reported the scam Jan. 28.